Antoinette Marie Pickett

Antoinette Marie Pickett, affectionately known as "Toni," was born on October 30, 1950, in Nuremberg, Germany, to Willis and Nancy Pickett, the third child of that union. Her parents returned to the United States in the fall of 1952, after her father served his military tour overseas. Toni grew up in Wilmington, NC, and graduated from New Hanover High School in 1969. After High School, she moved to Washington, DC where she resided with her sister, Constance (Connie). There, she completed courses in accounting and landed a lucrative position with the United States Postal Service, which she held for 39 years. She later made Ft. Washington, Maryland, her home. Upon retirement, she moved to Round Rock, Texas, to reside near her son Michael and his wife Nancy.

The focus of Toni's later life was her relationship with her Heavenly Father, Jehovah God, through his son Jesus. As a child, she was introduced to spiritual things through her mother, who would study the Bible from time-to-time with Jehovah's Witnesses. She and her siblings sat in and occasionally attended Christian meetings. Finally, when Toni was 23, her mother dedicated her life to God and got baptized, but Toni and her sisters were busy making a living. In the early 2000s, her sister Connie became serious about serving God and got baptized, in doing so, she made significant changes in her life. This impressed Toni, who started becoming more conscience of her own spiritual needs. (Matthew 5:3) She started a Bible Study with Virginia Cater before moving to Texas, where she continued her spiritual growth.

In Round Rock, Texas, she was assisted by, among others, LaVaugh Coleman. She was baptized on February 20, 2010. As soon as she could, she joined the pioneers in the congregation, devoting a considerable amount of time each month to the preaching and teaching work. She continued faithfully in this service for the next 15 years, until her death. She would say about her ministry that she wanted to make up for all those years she had neglected serving Jehovah. She truly loved her Heavenly Father.

She will be remembered for her insightful comments at the congregation Bible Studies. An excellent student and life-long learner, she applied herself to an in-depth study of the Scriptures. This strengthened her faith in God's promise of the resurrection in the coming new world.

She will also be remembered for her zeal in sharing the message of the good news with others. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19,20) She was acutely perceptive, personable, and friendly, and she used these gifts to speak to everyone she could about the coming paradise. Like Jesus, she really loved people.

She was modest about her good deeds. She didn't call attention to herself. However, she could be counted on to help with Kingdom Hall cleaning and maintenance or assisting those in need. One sister described her as a "worker bee".

Toni will be greatly missed by her family and friends. We can take comfort in her strong faith that Jehovah does not forget his loyal ones. She took courage in Jesus' words at John 6:40:

"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who recognizes

The Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life,

and I will resurrect him on the last day."

She was preceded in death by her father, Willis Pickett, and mother, Nancy Pickett, and older sister Jacqueline (Jackie) McKoy. She is survived by her beloved son, Michael Pickett and wife Nancy and her grandchildren Kandace and Jordon, her sisters, Constance (Connie) Smith of Ft. Washington, Maryland, Patricia Pickett Green of Columbus, Georgia, and Geraldine Pickett Davis of Great Mills, Maryland and her brother Randy Pickett of Maple Hill, North Carolina and a host of nieces and nephews. Toni will be thoroughly missed by her family and friends.